This is an 8-string Guitar tuning, named "Open Dsus2," offering a rich and expansive sonic palette.

Verbal Analysis

As playfully described with "DADA DEAD haha funny," this tuning immediately signals a strong foundation in the D note, amplified by multiple D and A notes across various octaves. It creates a powerful, resonant sound that feels both massive and harmonically coherent. Known to be used by artists like Joshua Travis, this tuning is celebrated for being "more conducive to chording than your average 8-string tuning." This means that despite its extended range, it's designed to make open and complex chord voicings more accessible and pleasing to the ear, moving beyond simple power chords. It's ideal for crafting heavy, technical riffs, atmospheric soundscapes, and intricate melodic lines that benefit from its wide dynamic range and harmonic structure.

Technical Analysis

The open strings for this tuning are: D1, A1, D2, A2, D3, E3, A3, D4. This configuration is essentially an Open Dsus2 chord, with the notes D, A, and E forming the core structure. The generous repetition of D and A across octaves (D1, A1, D2, A2, D3, A3, D4) provides a thick, almost symphonic resonance. The inclusion of E3 on the 3rd string is a key element, transforming a simple D5 into a Dsus2, adding a pleasant suspension and harmonic richness. Strumming the open strings will naturally yield a full, resonant Dsus2 chord or a powerful D5 chord depending on which strings are emphasized. This structure makes barre chords highly intuitive; barring across the lower strings will inherently produce Dsus2 or related voicings with minimal effort. The vast range, from the thunderous D1 to the shimmering D4, allows for extreme contrasts and dynamic play, making it versatile for both crushing low-end riffs and delicate melodic passages.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Dsus2 tuning from a standard 8-string tuning (typically F#1 B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), follow these steps:

• String 8 (F#1): Tune down 4 semitones to D1. This is a significant drop, so take care during tuning.
• String 7 (B1): Tune down 2 semitones to A1.
• String 6 (E2): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G3): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B3): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (E4): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.